Rice University

Rice University Summary

William Marsh Rice University, commonly called Rice University and opened in 1912 as The William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Letters, Science and Art, is a private, comprehensive research university located in Houston, Texas, USA, near the Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Further, in the Princeton Review’s 2007 rankings, Rice was ranked third for “Best Overall Academic Experience for Undergraduates” as well as among the top 20 schools where students “Never Stop Studying.” Hence the expression: “Rice students never leave the hedges,” referring to the plantings that both surround the campus and line the academic quad. Rice has also recently ranked first for the percentage of its students receiving National Science Fellowships, Comprehensively, the 2006 Academic Ranking of World Universities, popularized by The Economist and produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Institute of Higher Education, ranked Rice amongst the top 100 institutions globally in terms of quality of scientific research leading towards numerous awards . These rankings highlight the emphasis Rice places on its undergraduates, yet also signal the schools ability to maintain a reputable research environment at the graduate level. Indeed, Rice University possesses an endowment of $4.1 billion, fifth-highest per student among U.S. universities. All undergraduate students of Rice are members of the residential college system, and there are no fraternities or sororities. Rice students are locally known for being somewhat geeky and highly insulated from the outside world; in a May 2005 Playboy magazine study, it was discovered that Rice students were among the least sexually active of mid-to-high tier private university students in the nation. Rice University occupies a heavily-wooded 285 acre tract of land adjoining Hermann Park, Houston’s most historically significant public green space, and the Houston Museum District. Among the dozen or so museums in the Museum District is the Rice University Art Gallery, open during the school year. Several interdisciplinary research institutes, schools and think tanks are located on the Rice campus, including the Rice Architecture School, Shepherd School of Music, James Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice Quantum Institute, the Rice Engineering Design and Development Institute, the Rice Design Alliance, the Computer and Information Technology Institute, the Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology. Nine residential colleges (Baker, Brown, Hanszen, Jones, Lovett, Martel, Sid Rich, Wiess, and Will Rice) act as self-governed social units. Due in part to the traditions of the college system, Seventeen magazine, read by many high school students, named Rice the “coolest college in the land” in its “Top 100 Coolest Colleges” issue (October 2002). Rice University was founded by William Marsh Rice in 1891 and was originally named The William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Letters, Science, and Art. Patrick, Mr. Rice’s lawyers and the New York district attorney uncovered evidence proving Patrick had conspired with Rice’s valet to prepare the false will, leading to Patrick’s murder conviction in 1901. Legal challenges to William Rice’s will continued through 1904, when the Rice Institute finally received a $4.6 million (about $95 million in 2005 dollars) funding endowment. Rice was unusual for that time in admitting both male and female students. 1960 saw Rice Institute formally renamed Rice University. Rice donated much of its land to form NASA’s Manned Space Flight Center (now called Johnson Space Center) in 1962, prompting President John F. The original charter of Rice Institute dictated that the university admit and educate, tuition-free, “the white inhabitants of Houston, and the state of Texas.” In 1963, the governing board of Rice University filed a lawsuit to allow Rice to modify its charter to admit students of all races and to charge tuition. In the same year, Rice launched a $33 million (about $200 million in 2005 dollars) development campaign. The Rice Owls baseball team was ranked #1 in the nation for the first time in that year (1999), holding the top spot for eight weeks. Rice offers degrees in many subjects from the following schools: The residential college system is the focus of the undergraduate experience at Rice University. When students become undergraduates they are assigned to a residential college randomly (often simply referred to as ‘college’), although “legacy” exceptions are made for students whose siblings or other close relatives have attended (or are attending) Rice. The vast majority of students prefer to live on campus for all four years, but shortage of spaces results in some students being forced to live off campus each year (though they remain members of the college and typically take their meals, or at least their lunches, there). Students tend to develop extreme loyalty to their college and maintain friendly rivalry with other colleges, especially during events such as Beer Bike and O-Week. As a result of this organization the colleges are the central social structure of the undergraduate population at Rice. This has been the most significant criticism of the college system: that it tends to create groups of friends within a college to the exclusion of people in the other colleges. There are currently nine residential colleges, with six (Baker, Hanszen, Lovett, Sid Rich, Wiess, and Will Rice) on the south side of campus and three (Brown, Jones, and Martel) on the north. Although each college is composed of a full cross-section of students at Rice, each college over time has developed its own personality and traditions to varying degrees. Baker, Will Rice, Hanszen, and Wiess are the original four colleges, created in 1957 on the grounds of what were then called the North, South, West, and Wiess residence halls. Baker College, slightly smaller than the other eight colleges, is officially oldest and includes the original wood-paneled library, living quarters, and dining facility of the campus. Baker, William Marsh Rice’s lawyer who uncovered the plot of Rice’s butler. Traditions at Baker College include its annual Shakespeare play and Shakespeare-themed Baker Feast, its annual jazz-themed party, Baker Blues, and an annual Freshman Camping Trip, in which the freshman class brings back the college’s 25’ tall Christmas tree. Will Rice College is the second college, though its original dormitory building, originally called South Hall, is the oldest building on campus built as a residential hall. Will Rice was named not after Rice’s founder but after his nephew William Marsh Rice Jr., who was himself a contributor to the university. Hanszen College was the third residence built at Rice. Wiess College, the fourth and westernmost college, was originally Wiess Hall, the first residence hall at Rice named after a person. In 2002, Wiess became the first college to move from one building to another, when a new college facility opened to replace Wiess Hall, which had deteriorated to the point of being nearly uninhabitable. Lovett College was opened as an all-male college in 1968 after student riots of the 1960s, with an eye towards being riot-proof. Lovett, named after the first president of Rice, Edgar Odell Lovett, is sometimes referred to as “the toaster” after its rectangular facade and brutalist design. Jones College and Brown College are the two original north colleges. The isolation of the two north colleges was reduced in 2002 by the opening of a third north college, Martel College. However, it is becoming an integrated part of the Rice college system with some of the newest facilities on campus. Jones College was the first women’s residence on the Rice campus, followed by Brown. According to legend, the women’s colleges were purposefully situated at the opposite end of campus from the existing men’s colleges as a way of preserving campus propriety. The colleges became co-ed in the following order: Baker and Hanszen in 1973, Will Rice in 1978, Lovett and Jones in 1980, Wiess in 1983, and Sid Rich and Brown in 1987. Although graduate students may choose to join a college, their college membership does not include housing privileges, and thus it is extremely rare for graduate students to affiliate with a college. Most Rice graduate students live at the university-owned and operated Rice Graduate Apartments at 1515 Bissonnet (on the site of the former Southampton Apartment complex, demolished in 1997) or in private housing off campus. It is the projected home of a new Collaborative Research Center, linking Rice and Texas Medical Center research. Rice’s honor code gives its students a great deal of freedom and flexibility, allowing such things as take-home exams and closed book exams to exist. Baker 13 is one of the most enduring student traditions at Rice University. In 2002, as a precursor to the Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, the Olympic torch passed through Houston and Rice University. While it passed through the Rice campus, two Baker 13ers ran in front of it. The party started in the 1970s and quickly became a legendary event at Rice and in Houston, drawing young alumni and students from other universities in addition to Rice students. Because of its overtly sexual context, NOD eventually became a polarizing event on the Rice campus. In order to prevent a destructive escalation, Rice student organizations from time to time have attempted to impose rules or guidelines on jacks. The most notorious and legendary jack in Rice history was the turning of William Marsh Rice’s statue in the Academic Quadrangle in April 1988. The Rice Coffeehouse began at Hanszen College, where students would serve coffee in the college’s Weenie Loft, a study room in the old section’s fourth floor. Over the years, Valhalla has mostly been used by graduate students, but other adult members of the Rice community also feel at home. Willy’s Pub is Rice’s undergraduate pub located in the basement of the Rice Memorial Center. The name was chosen by students in tribute to the university’s founder, William Marsh Rice. The following month, Rice Campus Police, acting on an anonymous tip, arrested a Rice student who was later convicted in Federal court in Houston in January 1996. Rice has a weekly student-run newspaper (The Rice Thresher), radio station (KTRU-FM), and campus-wide television network (RTV5). The Rice Thresher is published every Friday and can be found around campus and at Kahn’s Deli in the Rice Village. In spring 2001, the Rice undergraduate community voted in the general elections to support RBT as a blanket tax organization, effectively providing a yearly income of $10,000 to purchase new equipment and provide the campus with a variety of new programming. In the spring of 2005, RBT members decided the station need a new image and a new name: Rice Television 5. Rice is the second smallest school, measured by undergraduate enrollment, competing in NCAA D-IA football, just above the University of Tulsa’s 2,756 and far below the largest, Arizona State University with 48,955. The Rice baseball team won the 2003 College World Series, defeating Stanford two games to one in the championship series, including a 14-2 rout in the final game. The victory made Rice University the smallest school in 51 years to win a national championship at the highest collegiate level of the sport. The Rice baseball team has played on campus at Reckling Park since the 2000 season and is by far the school’s top athletic program. (The baseball team has won 12 consecutive conference championships in three different conferences – the final championship of the defunct Southwest Conference, all 10 championships while a member of the Western Athletic Conference, and the championship in its first year as a member of Conference USA.) More recently, Rice’s baseball team finished third in the 2006 College World Series. After improvements in 2006, the stadium is currently configured to seat 47,000 for football but can readily be reconfigured to its original capacity of 70,000, more than the total number of Rice alumni, living and deceased. In addition to football, Rice Stadium also serves as the performance venue for the university’s Marching Owl Band, or “MOB.” On December 22, 2006, Rice played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, against the Sun Belt Conference champion, Troy. Rice also has a 14-member coed cheerleading squad and an all-female dance team, both of which perform at football and basketball games throughout the year. The university and Houston Independent School District jointly established The Rice School (La Escuela Rice), a kindergarten through 8th grade public magnet school in Houston.

Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.

Rice University Academics

There’s never a reason to feel alone in your studies either, since there are academic support services like Tutoring. That is, the university has a Cross-Registration, Double Major, Dual Enrollment of High School Students, Honors Program, Independent Study, Internships, Liberal Arts/Career Combination, ROTC, Air Force, ROTC, Army, ROTC, Navy, Student-Designed Major, Study Abroad and Teacher Certification. Further, when any student is looking for some counseling or other types of support, Alcohol/Substance Abuse Counseling, Campus Ministries/Chaplain, Career Counseling, Employment Service, Financial Aid Counseling, Freshman Orientation Program, Health Services, Minority Student Services, Personal Counseling, Placement Service and Women’s Services can help. Rice University is unique in its study options. The university has disability services as well, so be sure to inquire about them if needed.

The following are the types of degrees and majors offered at Rice University.

English Language and Literature:

English

Foreign Language and Literature:

Classics, French, German, ancient, Latin, Linguistics, Slavic, Spanish

Mathematics:

Applied Mathematics, Mathematics – General, Statistics

Popular majors:

twenty percent social sciences, thirteen percent engineering, eight percent biology, six percent english, six percent psychology, six percent visual and performing arts, five percent business per marketing, five percent foreign languages and literature, five percent physical sciences

Philosphy and Religion:

Philosophy, Religion/Religious Studies

Social Sciences:

Anthropology, Economics, Political Science/Government, Social Sciences – General, Sociology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences:

Biochemistry, Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology

Public Administration and Service:

Public Policy Analysis

Multiple or Interdisciplinary:

Classical/Ancient Mediterranean/Near Eastern Studies, Cognitive Science, Medieval/Renaissance Studies

Physical Sciences:

Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Physics, Chemistry, Geology, GeophysicsSeismology, PhysicalTheoretical Chemistry, Physics

School of Visual and Performing Arts:

Art – General, Art History/Criticism/Conservation, Arts – General, Fine/Studio Arts, Music – General, Music – General Performance, Music History/Literature, Music Theory/Composition

Psychology:

Psychology – General

Parks, Recreation, and Fitness:

Exercise Sciences

History:

History – General

Computer Science:

Computer Science

Business, Management, & Marketing:

Business Administration/Management

Are you an international student? The Fall application deadline for international students is the 10th of January. The cost per credit hour (overall) was $972 Cost & Savings Calculator Financial Aid International students eligible for non-need-based aid last fall. Moreover, for international students, the application fee is 50.

Rice University Admissions

Admission policy is currently Percent applicants admitted: 25% and Percent of students who return for sophomore year: 96%. Remember that this can change at any time. Transfer student are not ignored. An instance of this, there were three hundred and sixty-eight total number of transfer students who applied and ninety-three total number of transfer students who were admitted. This school requires an application fee consisting of fifty dollars regular application fee, fifty dollars out-of-state application fee, fifty dollars online application fee and point zero .

For all student applicants, the Fall application deadline is the 10th of January. the SAT subject section score is due the 28th of February. The regular application is due the 10th of January. SAT and ACT score reports are due the 28th of February and It is also very important to submit financial aid applications as quickly as possible, make sure to check with the university about the specific date for this year. Will you make it in time? Make sure to know when all the due dates and deadlines take place. If you wish to apply early, your application will be do no later than the 1st of November, of which you should hear back from the university no later than the 15th of December. Regardless of which application you submit, this school will notify you by the 1st of April. For priority students, financial aid applications are due no later than the 1st of March. If you are a transfer student, you will be notified of your acceptance by the 1st of June.

Rice University Athletics

The Owls are a member of NCAA. The following sports can be found here:

• Men’s NCAA Division I, Men’s Intercollegiate and Men’s Scholarship Baseball
• Men’s NCAA Division I, Women’s NCAA Division I, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural, Women’s Intramural, Men’s Scholarship and Women’s Scholarship Basketball
• Men’s NCAA Division I, Women’s NCAA Division I, Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Scholarship and Women’s Scholarship Cross_country
• Men’s NCAA Division IA, Men’s Intercollegiate and Men’s Scholarship Football
• Men’s NCAA Division I, Men’s Intercollegiate and Men’s Scholarship Golf
• Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Racquetball
• Women’s NCAA Division I, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Club and Women’s Scholarship Soccer
• Men’s Intramural, Women’s Intramural and Women’s Club Softball
• Men’s Intramural and Women’s Intramural Table_tennis
• Men’s Intercollegiate, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural, Women’s Intramural, Men’s Scholarship and Women’s Scholarship Track_and_field
• Men’s NCAA Division I and Women’s NCAA Division I Track_indoor
• Men’s NCAA Division I and Women’s NCAA Division I Track_outdoor
• Women’s NCAA Division I, Women’s Intercollegiate, Men’s Intramural, Women’s Intramural, Men’s Club and Women’s Scholarship Volleyball

Rice University Financial Aid

Financial aid for students is readily accessible at this school. In the same way, need based financial aid distribution is determined through Academics, Art, Music/Drama, Athletics, Minority Status, ROTC, Alumni Affiliation, Leadership and State/District Residency. If you are not a need based student, non-need distribution for financial aid is determined by Academics, Art, Music/Drama, Athletics, Minority Status, ROTC, Alumni Affiliation, Leadership and State/District Residency. Financial aid distribution is at eighty-four percent scholarships per grants and sixteen percent loans per jobs. Financial aid forms are Business/farm supplement, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, FAFSA and Noncustodial (divorced/separated) Parents Statement.

Rice University Students

The university is a Private, University, Four-year, Coed, where 25 percent of the applicants were admitted, Regionally accredited and College Board member. Furthermore, it is part of an Urban setting, Very large city (over 500,000) and Residential campus. Again, the student body consists of forty-six percent in-state students, fifty-four percent out-of-state students, zero percent part-time students, forty-seven percent women, fifty-three percent men, one percent american indian per alaskan native, eighteen percent asian per pacific islander, seven percent black per non-hispanic, fourteen percent hispanic, fifty-three percent white per non-hispanic, three percent non-resident alien, five percent race per ethnicity unreported, eighty-eight percent in top 10th of graduating class, ninety-six percent in top quarter of graduating class and ninety-nine percent in top half of graduating class. The school’s size is approximately two thousand, nine hundred and eighty-eight degree-seeking undergrads, seven hundred and twenty-two first-time degree-seeking freshmen and two thousand and seventy-three graduate enrollment. Rice University offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees.

This school features the Urban setting, Very large city (over 500,000) and Residential campus. Again, the university has many unique facilites such as art museum, wetland center for biochemical research, nanotechnology lab, center for study of languages and culture, civil engineering lab, concert hall with grand organ, institutes for public policy. Students should note the housing policies: First-Year Students Guaranteed On-Campus Housing, ninety-eight percent of first-year students live in college housing, sixty-nine percent of all undergraduates live in college housing, Coed Housing, Special Housing For Disabled Students, one-MAY deadline for housing deposit, fifty dollars amount of housing deposit, point zero , and First-time first-year students allowed to have car. After all, the school is located 3 miles from downtown.